Urban Farms in Boston’s Future

A revolution is brewing around land use in Boston.

Mayor Thomas Menino’s Urban Agriculture Working Group, made up of farming advocates, experts and ordinary citizens, was formed more than a year ago to advise city personnel on the development of urban agriculture zoning recommendations.

You’ll have a chance to weigh in during the Urban Agriculture Visioning and Kickoff meeting to be held on Monday, January 30th, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Suffolk University in downtown Boston.

All are invited to learn about urban agriculture – whether rooftop or vertical farming, aquaculture or other forms of food cultivation – and to join the conversation about how Boston’s Zoning Code might be modified to support urban farmers. Urban farmers grow foods in ways that are responsive to community needs, and sell the products of their labor.

The kickoff meeting’s keynote speaker, Will Allen, is a 2008 recipient of the prestigious McArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” for his work on urban farming. Listen to his inspiring insights into the positive impact of sustainable food production. Then, hang around to sample foods and check out how you can be part of the positive transformation of Boston’s neighborhoods that will both create economic opportunity and bring fresh, healthy foods to many nooks and crannies of the city, particularly underserved communities.

The Urban Agriculture Visioning and Kickoff Meeting, coordinated by Mayor Menino, the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the Mayor’s Office of Food Initiatives, will be held at 73 Tremont Street, 9th floor. Because of room capacity, the meeting is limited to 150 people. Security requires that participants bring i.d. (a driver’s license, for example). Or, register ahead of time by sending your full name to john.read.BRA@cityofboston.gov by January 27th. The Boston Redevelopment Authority website has additional details, and provides links to related publications.